Psalm 51:1-57:11

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22

There is someone out there today that needs to hear this. There is someone whose heart is heavy and overflowing with burdens they can’t bear any longer. There is someone out there who is reading this who is seconds away from giving up and as a last ditch effort, by the Grace of God, is reading this before they do.

It is not by accident that you found this blog. It isn’t by chance that I’m speaking straight to you right now. It’s GOD. He knows the aches of your heart and He desperately desires to lift them from your crushed spirit. He’s reaching out to you a helping hand. The kind of hand that heals the broken hearted and mends wounded souls. His hands touch the afflicted with comfort. His shoulders are wide and strong and made to carry the burdens you currently bear. His arms are flung wide in order to embrace your brokenness and hurt. He doesn’t protect His heart from the slings and arrows of men, He leaves it wide open for you to walk right in and make yourself at home. He asks only for the openness of your own heart to receive the Grace He extends to you.

Jesus is Lord of all, yet He stoops down to hear the prayers of the weak. He is King of all nations yet He came to climb upon a cross on YOUR behalf; in your stead. He could have called thousands upon thousands of angels to come and remove Him from the suffering. He instead calls thousands upon thousands of angels to come and keep watch over YOU, His Beloved, night after night. He calls to you in the stirrings of your heart. He calls to you in the longings of your soul. He calls to you even in the questions of your mind. He calls to you, because He cares for you. He cares for you in ways that you could never imagine. He loves you with an abandon that you’ve never experienced before. He loves you with such adoration that He literally stares at you all day long and all night long while you sleep. He never sleeps but is in constant guard over YOU, His Beloved, because He loves YOU.

Yes, your heart is weighed down with many burdens. But it doesn’t have to stay that way! Human shoulders were never created to carry the burdens we place upon ourselves day after day. They were created to snuggle up under the protective arm of God. The arm of God that is never too short to save, but is always long enough to keep the attackers at bay.

Beloved, lay your burdens down.

Lay them down at His feet and allow Him to carry them for you. He’s big enough and He’s certainly strong enough, but more than that, He’s willing enough. He is willing to take your burdens from you. He is willing to help you with the things that concern you. He is willing to lighten your load. He is willing to heal your hurts and He is willing to ease your pain.

There is a suicidal spirit that is sweeping our dear nation and it is coming from a place of hopelessness. But the Truth that sets us free from hopelessness is that the blood of Jesus shed on the cross was for each and every soul. It wasn’t just for those who were present when it happened, it was for EVERYONE, yes, even YOU. And the greatest part is that when we accept the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross we are accepting everything that comes with it.

The blood of Jesus makes us anything but hopeless.

Because of Jesus we can have hope that our life isn’t for nothing. Because of Jesus we have been given the Truth that we were placed, planted, on this planet for a purpose, for a time such as this. If you are breathing at this very moment, it’s because God wants you here, because He has a plan for your life and His word says that it’s a GOOD plan!* His word says that it’s a plan for hope and a future. His word also says that everything that has happened in your life has happened in order to bring you to a place where you will come to realize that you really do need Him in your life. His word says that He loves you and that He wants a relationship with you. He wants for you to know intimate secrets about Him and to share yours with Him. Not that He doesn’t already know them, because trust me, He does. But He wants to sit and just listen to the melody of your voice telling Him about your life. He wants to hear the song your heart sings when it pours itself out all over the floor in a flood of tears and pain. I know it sounds crazy, but all the things that hurt you, He wants them; because He knows they’re hurting you.

He knows.

And He cares.

And He will sustain you.

Jesus is before you, right now, on bended knee extending out to you an engagement ring called “Salvation” and a wedding ring called “Grace”. His proposal is simple, “Will you marry Me and let Me lead you and take care of you all the days of your life? Will you turn away from all those past lovers that have left you and wounded you and will you let Me cling to you and heal you?”

Will you accept Him and all His benefits? Will you allow Him to come and soothe your aches and pains? Will you allow Him to remove your burdens and replace them with blessings? Will you allow Him to come and shepherd you like a sheep, lost and lonely?

Salvation is as simple as saying, “Yes!”

If you said, “Yes!” today, please let us know in the comments below. We would REALLY love to celebrate with you! We’re here for you, not as much as Jesus is, but we’re as here for you as two human beings can be. 😉 Another helpful thing would be to enter your email into the “Stay Updated” box at the top right hand side of the page. By doing this you will receive daily emails with links to daily scripture readings, a daily devotional to encourage you and any time you comment on the blogs we respond as quickly as possible.

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Psalm 45:1-50:23

“Stand silent! Know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation in the world!” Psalm 46:10 TLB

Yesterday when I wrote the word, “Grounded” the other meaning of that word hit me. Our son has been grounded from his electronic devices and the change in his has been amazing. Instead of having his nose stuck in his Kindle it’s been in his closet pulling out totes of construction materials. He’s been engaging with the family more and participating in conversations. This made me realize, considering my conversations with God as of late, that perhaps my phone is playing a huge roll in stressing me out. So last night, in the hours I lay in bed wide awake the thought occurred to me to do an experiment. I could do a “phone fast” for a week and see if that makes any difference in my stress levels.

So my plan is to keep my phone on silent and turned face down on my desk so that it will still receive messages but I won’t be able to see or hear them. Then, like anyone else who isn’t allowed to have their phones on them at work during the day, when I take a break for lunch I will check those messages and answer any that need my immediate attention. Then the phone will go face down on my desk again until, lunch again the next day.

I realize this sounds extreme, but nothing wagered, nothing gained right? If I’m seeing such great things in my son’s grounding then why wouldn’t I also see great things in my own “grounding”? As usual, I’ll be using the blog as my journal and therefore keeping you up to date with how this experiment is going. Please keep me in your prayers this week as this should be an especially interesting experiment! Who knows, it may just turn into a new normal for me! 😉

Psalms 39:1-44:26

“O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds You performed in their days, in the days of old; You with Your own hand drove out the nations, but them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, but them You set free; for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but Your right hand and Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You delighted in them.” Psalms 44:1-2

Fridays are my Sabbath day, many of you know this. I learned the importance of a Sabbath when God took me through writing Rest, and the rest has been history. 😉

I’ve gone back and forth on being good on my Sabbaths and I’ve gone through times when I’ve even gone out and gotten groceries on those days, or run errands. But deep in my heart I’ve always known that those are supposed to be the days I set aside just for God. Like a longer form of my morning devotions my Sabbath days are supposed to be just for me and God.

Lately, although I’ve known that some good old fashioned quiet time in prayer with Him is what He’s been longing for with me. I’ve not done it. I’ve allowed myself to become slave to my phone and the messages that constantly pop up onto its sweet little screen. The words telling me that I’m important to the people on the other side, that they need my help and my time. All the while there’s a tugging at my soul with the still small voice of the LORD calling me to “be still and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46:10) Yesterday I battled with myself for hours over this, back and forth and back and forth. I’d pick up the phone tap out a text or two responses and then I’d feel dirty and put it back down. I’d pray for a couple minutes the whole while the silenced phone tugging at my consciousness begging me to pick it up again just to see if there were any new messages validating my worth. Finally it all came to a head and I put the phone on my desk. I was exhausted from the hectic week and full schedule. I was exhausted from the emotional struggle I’d been on all morning. I was exhausted. So I went to bed.

My head no more than hit the pillow and God’s voice burst forth like a bubbling spring that had just been released from the pressure of silent captivity. He was so HAPPY that I had finally given up the fight and allowed myself to REST. I had finally determined that my sanity was worth more than all those messages. And in true Holy Spirit style, while the words He spoke WERE convicting, His voice was like a honey and butter on toast, sweet and smooth and warm with just the perfect amount of gratifying crunch that makes you happy on the inside because He is speaking the TRUTH and the truth sets us free.

He said “Grounded”,

and then showed me a picture of a palm tree (Tamar is the name of the date palm trees that bear the dates that were a main staple during Biblical times).

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He said, “Your name is Tamar for a reason. I call you as you are not how you act. You are a tree, grounded and sturdy, strong and yet flexible. But that’s not how your acting right now is it? How do you feel right now?”

“Like a bobber on the end of fishing line, not really attached to anything just floating in the tossing waves trying to keep my head above the water… and it’s not working Lord. I want to BE that tree, steady and unmoving, but it’s so hard because I want people to LIKE me!”

“Sweetie you know better than that! It’s not about people liking you! It’s about making people more aware of ME through you. It’s about staying within the boundaries I’ve set for you, for your protection – not your captivity. You KNOW time with me in stillness is for your benefit, yet you’ve avoided it all morning, why?”

“They needed me.”

“Yes Baby, but you needed ME more than they need you right now. You’ve GOT to understand that. You’ve got to come to a point where you allow yourself to be weak and in need of a recharge from My hand. You’ve got to allow yourself to admit that you’re not the super mom, super friend, and super worker that you expect yourself to be. Because when you allow yourself to be weak (the way I MADE you) then you will be filled with MY strength and you know that it’s ever so much stronger than your own strength. So why fight it? Why waste your time and energy trying to do everything on your own when you KNOW that you can do it all so much better when you’re with Me? Sweetie, sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself and tell people “No”. Even if they don’t want to hear it. Sometimes loving yourself first IS loving your neighbor and being a good friend. Taking care of yourself IS taking care of your family and your friends. Recognizing that you’re tired and allowing yourself to take a time-out (and maybe a nap) IS taking care of your kids and your husband.

You know that when you are well rested you are happier. You know that when you’ve spent time in the Holy of Holies with Me you are more calm and peaceful throughout your day. You know that when you’ve taken this one day off the rest of your week goes so much more smoothly. You know these things, yet you’re allowing the people in your life to dictate whether or not you take the rest you need rather than listening to ME. You know this is the standard I’ve set for you: no leaving the house while the kids are at school, no talking or texting on the phone, no opening your computer for any reason, just time with ME. Yet every single one of those standards you’ve allowed the people in your life to stomp all over them. If you’ve told them that these are the rules I’ve set up for you, and they don’t respect them, then they’re not respecting you or Me.”

“Well, Lord, I don’t know that they know all that. I think I’ve really only told them that Friday is my Sabbath. I don’t know that I’ve ever really detailed it for any of them.”

“Hmmm… you’d better do that then shouldn’t you? How can you expect them to respect my boundaries for you if you’ve not told them what those boundaries are?”

“Yes Papa.”

*Thanks to Omgzi’s blog for these FABULOUS pictures!!! If you have time you should check it out, he has TONS of great information there! I will definitely be returning!

Psalms 35:1-38:22

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when He delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.” Psalms 37:23-24

I remember when my kids were learning to walk how often they fell. I would hold their hand so that when they fell they wouldn’t hit their head or their face. That’s the picture that I get from this scripture. Though we fall… and we certainly do, we won’t go flying headlong into the pavement because the LORD is with us. He will not let us continue down a path that leads to our own destruction. He loves us too much to allow us to do that. He is faithful to us, especially when we’re not faithful to Him.

Isn’t it so great to know that even when we fall, we’re not fallen?

Psalms 29:1-34:22

The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD, over many waters.

The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;

the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,

and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.

The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;

The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth

and strips the forest bare,

And in His temple all cry, “Glory!”

Psalm 29:3-9

“My child, you mean too much to Me to allow you to continue down this destructive path. I know the path I’m asking you to walk is humbling and fraught with difficulty. But I’m not asking you to walk it alone. For I am with you always to the end of the age.(1) You see, I love you way too much to allow you to walk any path without Me. I’m here for you; to guide you and protect you. I love you and all I’m asking is that you will trust Me on this. I am a good parent, I wouldn’t ask you to do something this hard if I wasn’t also planning on helping you through it.

You’re gonna make it. It’s going to be OK. Remember, I’m bigger and scarier than anything you could be facing out there.(2) Remember, I am with you. And if I’m with you then who can be against you?(3) You can do all things through Me because I will give you strength.(4) Did you know that nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible for Me?(5) Yup. And all things are possible for those who believe Me(6) when I say, “I love YOU”.(7)

You are My beloved child in whom I am well pleased.(8) You have been a faithful servant, now be a faithful friend,(9) go with Me into this new place I’m taking you.(10) Trust Me when I tell you that it’s good.(11)

I love you!

Papa J

1. Matthew 28:20 And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
2. 1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
3. Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
4. 1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Philippians 4:12-13 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
5. Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.
6. Mark 9:22-24 “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
7. John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
8. Matthew 3:17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 1 John 4:17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he [Jesus] is so also are we in this world.
9. John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
10. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
11. Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Psalms 1:1-8:9

“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! … When I look at Your heavens the work of Your fingers, the moon and the starts, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” Psalms 8:1, 3-4

Ahhhh…… I am SOOO excited to be here today! We’ve made it to the Psalms! I have really been looking forward to them. If there’s one book in the Bible that everyone is sure to relate to, it’s the Psalms. And today’s verse could not have come at a better time. On laundry day this week Louie Giglio helped me sort and fold while I watched a couple of his videos on the heavens (How Great is our God and Indescribable). I HIGHLY recommend taking the time to watch them if you want your socks knocked off! The abundance of the heavens is beyond imagining.

Isaiah 40:12 (EXB) says “who has measured the oceans [waters] in the palm [hollow] of His hand? Who has used His hand [a span; the distance between the extended thumb and the little finger] to measure the sky [heavens]?”

The entire universe fits in the palm of His hand, and yet who am I that He is mindful of me? And yet His is!

1 Peter 5:7 says to, “Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.”

According to Psalm 40:5, His thoughts toward you are multiplied.

In Jeremiah He says to, “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and wondrous things that you do not know.” (3:33)

And “I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (29:11)

Job asks, “Does not He see my ways and number all my steps?” Job 31:4

And Jesus assures us, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7

Still don’t believe that He cares for you? Look at the beauty and sheer mass of the heavens all unique yet He calls them all by name.(Psalms 147:4) Awesome right? Now look at your finger tips. Each one creates a unique imprint, no two are identical, even on your own hands! He cares SO MUCH for you that He put that much detail into your creation. He made you special, holy, different, even weird, because He cares about Y.O.U.! And He calls you by name. You are not a number in a crowd my friend, you are special to Him.